Celebrating Nurses Week: Meet Christa of Spring Mill

May 09, 2016

“The character of a nurse is as important as the knowledge they possess.” -Carolyn Javis

In celebration of Nurses Week, Presby’s Inspired Life is sharing the stories of some of the many, amazing nurses that work in our communities. Christa is an LPN at Presby’s Spring Mill community. She’s been a nurse for almost 20 years and is a mother of four children! In the Q&A that follows, Christa shares how her high school experience laid the foundation for her career in nursing.

What inspired you to become a nurse? When I was in high school I worked an older adult community in Ambler in the kitchen and then in activities. I enjoyed my time there but left not really sure what I was going to do. Then one day a friend told me about an LPN program and it reignited a spark. I went back to school and received my LPN and have been in the field ever since.

Did you have a role model or mentor that encouraged you to pursue a career in nursing? If yes, who? Not one in particular. A lot of the people that I had worked with me at my previous job encouraged and inspired me to get into the nursing field.

What unique gifts and talents do you feel you bring to your role? I’m a good listener. I love the conversations I have with the residents. The communication skills I possess and the empathy that I express is important.

What inspires you the most about working with older adults? I enjoy working with older adults. The idea of dedicating my career in this particular field began to grow on me. It’s nice to hear their stories, to get to know who they are as people and to learn from them.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a nurse? Being able to help residents not just feel physically feel better, but emotionally well.

Do you have a memorable experience that touched you in a special way, either with a resident and/or a family? I had a resident in skilled nursing who had cancer and she and her husband both lived in the community. She was struggling. I helped them through the transition to hospice care. I didn’t tell her what to do, I just helped walk her through the decision and it was just a really great experience to be able to be there provide support.

What do you enjoy the most about working at Spring Mill? It’s a great environment. Everyone takes their job seriously. The residents are fantastic. You know they are happy and that they enjoy it here.

What advice would you give to an aspiring nurse? You have to learn patience and you have to be a good listener. It’s also important to remember that the residents are people. They have a family, they have a history…no matter what is going on with them , you always need to keep that personal aspect in mind.